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Outgoing NOVA Parks director wins prestigious Pugsley Medal for conservation work

Published September 26, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated September 26, 2025 at 12:25PM

NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert with the Pugsley Medal (courtesy image)

Outgoing NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert received the prestigious Pugsley Medal earlier this month for his dedication to conservation, promotion and development of public parks.

Gilbert was nominated for the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal by late Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11). The award was presented Sept. 17 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and is recognized as the the most prestigious recognition for the promotion and development of public parks in the country, according to AAPRA. He has been executive director of NOVA Parks for 20 years and will be succeeded by former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson on Oct. 6.

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Atlas Brew Works wins RAMMYS Award for ‘Beer Program of the Year’

By James Cullum

Published August 5, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated August 5, 2025 at 2:25PM

Beer at Atlas Brew Works (photo via Atlas Brew Works/Facebook)

Atlas Brew Works, which opened a taproom in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood last year, was awarded this year’s RAMMYS Award for Beer Program of the Year on Sunday, August 3.

Atlas Brew Works (2425 Mandeville Lane) was one of three businesses in Alexandria up for regional awards from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), along with Andy’s Pizza (107 N. Fayette Street) and Josephine (109 S. St. Asaph Street).

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From Brunch to Brew: Three Alexandria restaurants nominated for RAMMY awards

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 10:00AM

Food at Josephine, 109 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town (via LeadingDC)

If you’re looking for a place to eat, a number of Alexandria restaurants have been named 2025 RAMMY Honors finalists by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

Nominations were announced in April, and the winners will be declared at the RAMMYS Awards & Gala on August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Nominees were only eligible if they were in business throughout 2024.

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There are just four days left to vote for Alexandria in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Small Cities” list

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2025 at 9:45AM

Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

There are only four days left to choose Alexandria in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

Alexandria has been consistently ranked as one of the top five small cities in the country for the past six years. Last year, the city got third place nationwide. The voting deadline is Monday, June 30.

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Alexandria City Public Schools names Principal and Teacher of the Year

By James Cullum

Published May 9, 2025 at 9:30AM

Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School Principal Suzanne M. Hess (in green) and James K. Polk Elementary School teacher Sharon Phox (to her right) with ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt (on left) and the School Board, May 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Teaching kids is challenging, and on Thursday (May 8) Alexandria City Public Schools named two of its best the principal and teacher of the year.

School Board Chair Michelle Rief and Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented the awards to Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School Principal Suzanne M. Hess and James K. Polk Elementary School third-grade teacher Sharon Phox.

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Volunteers to be honored for thousands of community service hours in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2025 at 2:15PM

Image via Volunteer Alexandria

Volunteering in Alexandria isn’t exactly a thankless job.

Later this month, 84 individuals working with Volunteer Alexandria will be honored for their selfless work to donate thousands of hours toward the betterment of the city. From gathering and distributing free food to shoveling snow and organizing meet-ups and clubs, the honorees provide a valuable service that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

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JUST IN: Polk Elementary 3rd grade teacher Sharon Phox named Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2025 at 3:58PM

James K. Polk Elementary School 3rd grade teacher Sharon Phox was named the Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year, March 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A rapturous applause followed after a James K. Polk Elementary School teacher was officially named the Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year.

In front of an assembly of third graders, teacher Sharon Phox was presented the honor by Lisa Coons, Virginia’s superintendent for public instruction, as well as Alexandria City Public Schools leadership and her family.

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Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company medals twice at Great American Beer Fest

By James Cullum

Published November 7, 2024 at 4:20PM

Alexandria's Port City Brewing Company wins at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival (Courtesy photo)

It’s the perfect weather for an award-winning Port City Brewing Company beer, and this year there are two champion brews for the choosing.

The 30-barrel brewery and tap room in Alexandria’s West End brought home gold and bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival Competition.

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Bradlee Shopping Center, Port City and more celebrated in Beautification Awards

By Vernon Miles

Published August 21, 2024 at 10:00AM

The new mural at the Bradlee Shopping Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

What do the Bradlee Shopping Center, Winkler Botanical Preserve, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office all have in common?

Well, the headline sort of gives away the answer, but: all three were among locations in Alexandria honored in last week’s 2024 Beautification Awards.

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Woman behind major tourism push in Alexandria honored as Business Leader of the Year

By Vernon Miles

Published July 24, 2024 at 10:15AM

Visit Alexandria CEO Patricia Washington speaks (staff photo by James Cullum)

Patricia Washington has spent the last decade building Visit Alexandria into a major force for tourism and will be honored as The Chamber ALX’s Business Leader of the Year.

The Chamber ALX announced that recently retired President and CEO of Visit Alexandria Patricia Washington is their 2024 Business Leader of the Year.

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Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail wins National Park Service volunteerism award

By Vernon Miles

Published July 16, 2024 at 1:45PM

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail is a volunteer group that’s worked tirelessly to maintain and improve one of the region’s most beautiful trails and the National Park Service (NPS) recently recognized the group for those efforts.

The group took home the National Park Service Impact Award: Team Category in the NPS’ Excellence in Volunteerism Awards.